Above the heavens, beyond the grasp of time and space, lay a boundless expanse of swirling grey. It was neither void nor reality, only pure, undiluted chaos. No laws existed here. No Yin or Yang. Only the silent, eternal churn of formless essence, older than creation itself. Everything felt distant, as if even reality had forgotten this place.
Suddenly, the chaos rippled. Everything fell silent and still, then, a sigh echoed from deep within it.
"So… he has finally awakened his past life's memories. Very well. Let's make this more interesting, after all, this is what you forced me into doing, staying here for countless eons!" "Hahahaha."
An old, maniacal laughter rang out. It carried no trace of joy, only a deep-seated hatred long buried beneath the endless grey mist.
-
Jiāng Zú Tiānjī Fǔ — The Heavenly Secrets Estate of the Jiang C
Nestled high above the mortal realms, hidden behind layers of mist and fate-shielding formations, lies the Jiang Family's ancestral domain—Jiāng Zú Tiānjī
Perched atop a floating mountain adrift between cloud and void, the sanctuary overlooks a boundless sky of pale gold and indigo. Unlike the grandeur of immortal palaces, Jiangyuan is tranquil, minimalist, and ancient, it was built from white jade veined with starlight, its structures inscribed with sacred formations that pulse faintly in the dark.
At the sanctuary's heart stands the Heaven-Mirror Terrace, a wide platform encircled by bronze pillars etched with Dao Runes. Here, the elders of the Jiang Clan sit in silent meditation, gazing as the currents of fate ripple across the sky like ink in water. Above them, a colossal Sky-Reaching Obelisk pierces the firmament, its surface inscribed with ever-shifting celestial runes not drawn by hand, but written by the will of the Heavenly Dao itself.
Around the terrace, soul-calming herbs grow in ordered gardens, and crystal-lotus ponds reflect not the clouds, but the stars above. The air hums with karmic resonance, and within the drifting mist, whispers sometimes echo: fragments of forgotten futures and discarded destini
...
Without warning, the Sky-Reaching Obelisk flared to life. The runes around it writhed and rearranged, forming glowing words that hung in the air like divine edict
" The child of destiny has awake
Ancient memory stirs in silence
Samsara or Nirvana, only one remain
When the Four Poles fractures
Even time must kneel."
Suddenly, the orb atop the obelisk blazed, and a vision surged into the heavens.
A lone young man stood, sword in hand, surrounded by an ocean of corpses, human and non-human alike. His white robes fluttered in a wind soaked with blood. Death was sil
Then, the vision shifted. Laws shattered. The sky collapsed. The sun itself cracked like fragile jad
In the final scene, everything fell still. From the dark soil of a broken land, a single green sprout emerged, soft and fragile. Above it, a new sun rose slowly on the horizon. Then the vision ended and the light from the orb slowly dims and the orb turns dark.
Silence fell again over the Heaven-Mirror Terrace, but it was no longer tranquil. It was the silence of awe. Of fear and horror of the prophecy they had just witnessed.
The elders of the Jiang Clan, men and women who had peered at the prophecy sat there in silence suddenly the Jiang ancestor who has not come out in ages came out and only say a single sentence "find him."
The Jiang Clan Patriach Jiang Ziyan announced his orders " send this information to the leaders of all the Overlord sects and also let all Jiang Clan disciples go out and find the child of destiny, go now!"
Meanwhile…
Zhengyi Zhiguang, unaware of the prophecy and the chaos stirring in the world beyond, was nearing Luying Town in the carriage his mother had arranged for him
As they approached the town gates, two guards stepped forward. One of them raised a hand, commanding the coachman, "Halt!"
Mr. Zhao, the coachman, responded with polite calm. "What is it, dear sirs?" he asked, subtly releasing the pressure of a Level 3 Qi Condensation cultivator.
Feeling the aura, the two guards, also at Qi Condensation Level 3, also straightened - and spoke more respectfully. "A toll fee of ten silver coins is required to enter the town."
Mr. Zhao nodded. "That's no problem." He quickly paid the silver coins, and the guards stepped aside.
The carriage rolled into Luying Town, a bustling hub alive with the rhythm of trade and cultivation.
Unlike most towns, Luying's significance lay not in its size or wealth, but in its strategic location, it was the gateway to the infamous White-Night Forest, one of the Ten Forbidden Zones of the Xi Continent. Within that forest lurked, terrifying spirit beasts, rare alchemical ingredients, and untold opportunities for cultivation… or death.
As the carriage moved through the crowded streets, Zhengyi glanced out the window.
The insignia of the Mystic Dao Palace Sect was emblazoned on a massive stone platform near the town square, indicating the sect's ownership of the region. Cultivators of varying stages walked side by side, Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, and even a few cloaked figures hiding their presence.
The street buzzed with conversation: strategies for surviving the forest, tales of narrow escapes, rumours of beast tides, and whisperings of miracle herbs discovered deep within the fog-covered trees.
"Innkeepers, apothecaries, blacksmiths… everything's here," Zhengyi thought.
"Mr. Zhao," he called from within the carriage, "please stop at any inn you find suitable."
"Yes, Young Master," Zhao replied.
A few moments later, the carriage halted in front of a grand building with a carved plaque overhead:
Clear Moon Pavilion
This was the most famous inn in Luying Town, known for its threefold services: an inn, a restaurant, and a bar. It was always lively, and today was no exception. Streams of cultivators came and went, laughter and the scent of roasted meat wafting through the air.
Zhengyi stepped down from the carriage.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhao. I can manage from here. Please return home safely."
Mr. Zhao smiled. "Of course, Young Master. Do take care." He clicked the reins, and the carriage pulled away.
Zhengyi stood silently for a moment, watching the carriage disappear into the crowd. Then he turned toward the inn.
From inside came the clatter of cups, the hum of conversations, and the faint melody of a string instrument. He exhaled quietly.
"In my previous life, I stood above all as a Quasi Primordial Immortal God, the leader of the mightiest sect in the Immortal Realm. Now… here I am again, a mortal. My divine soul has returned, but my cultivation is gone. I must start anew."
Still, his eyes held no despair, only calm resolve.
"My understanding of the Dao… of the Laws… remains. All I need is spiritual energy."
He shook his head, casting off unnecessary thoughts, and stepped inside.
The interior was packed with guests eating and drinking. At one corner, he spotted an empty table and walked over. No sooner had he sat down than a waiter approached, bowing respectfully.
The youth's robe, a shimmering white garment made from Eight-Eyed Demonic Spider Silk, marked him as someone of status.
"Young Master, what would you like to order?" the waiter asked.
Zhengyi picked up the menu and glanced through it casually. "This dish will do. Also, get me a quiet, decent courtyard."
Without another word, he took out a pouch from his waist and dropped twenty low-grade spirit stones onto the table.
The waiter's eyes sparkled. The cost for a room and meal wasn't more than eighteen spirit stones, so the extra two were clearly a generous tip.
"Right away, Young Master!" he said, bowing low before hurrying off.
A few minutes later, the waiter returned and led Zhengyi to an isolated courtyard in the East Wing. This section of the inn was reserved for nobles and elite guests. quiet, serene, and fortified with spiritual formations for privacy.
Inside, the room was elegantly simple. Zhengyi walked to the bed and sat for a while in silence.
Then, with practised ease, he folded his legs into a lotus position on the cultivation mat and closed his eyes.
The moment he began to cultivate, the ambient spiritual energy stirred. Like a vortex forming around him, the Qi swirled in spirals and was drawn into his body with unnatural smoothness.
Though his cultivation base had vanished, his comprehension of the Dao remained supreme.
(Author's Note: Please tell me your honest thoughts about this chapter in the comments and what you think might come next).